Tag Archives: working woman

Edwardian Shirtwaist Costume

18th November 20221900s - Edwardiandress, edwardian, finished historical costume, sportswear, travel, wool, working womanLina

The Edwardian shirtwaist costume was the most practical everyday attire. A shirtwaist costume consisted of a tailored skirt and a separate shirtwaist blouse.

‘With a good black skirt and two or three well made, neat and stylish shirt waists we can always manage to look well dressed.’ (San Francisco Call, 1905)

Shirtwaist costumes were basics in every Edwardian woman’s wardrobe: She could wear it every day for almost any occasion! My version of an Edwardian shirtwaist costume consist of a tailored black wool trumpet skirt, a white cotton shirtwaist (blouse), a patent leather belt with metal belt buckle, a leather chatelaine bag with metal chatelaine hook, a black tie and hair ribbon and a pink rayon taffeta petticoat – all parts of the outfit are made by me. 🙂 Continue reading Edwardian Shirtwaist Costume →

How To Sew A Historical Peasant Bodice

2nd August 2022Sewing & Crochet18th century, corset, edwardian, historybounding, medieval, sewing, tutorial, underwear, victorian, working womanLina

Sew a simple unboned historical peasant bodice with front lacing for historical reenactment or as modern cottagecore lace-up corset top!

In the past, peasants and other working women often wore simple unboned bodices or lightly boned stays. My historical working woman stays are based on antique rural stays. This historical peasant bodice features a low neckline, shoulder straps, spiral lacing at the center front and princess seams at the back. You can make it completely unboned or just lightly boned. Continue reading How To Sew A Historical Peasant Bodice →

Historical Peasant Woman Outfit: Unboned Stays, Bumroll & Corded Petticoat

15th May 20221840-60 - Victorian, 18th Century, 1900s - Edwardian18th century, blue, corset, dress, edwardian, finished historical costume, green, underwear, upcycling, victorian, working womanLina

If you read my blog regularly, you know that I’m more drawn to historical lower class everyday clothing, especially rural working woman costumes. This is my newest peasant woman outfit: It consists of an unbleached chemise, unboned rural stays, bumroll and dyed-by-me corded petticoat and tucked skirt. An outfit like my historical farm girl outfit would’ve been worn in the 18th century or early Victorian era. And without the bumroll the working class woman costume is even suitable for the Edwardian era. Continue reading Historical Peasant Woman Outfit: Unboned Stays, Bumroll & Corded Petticoat →

How To Sew A Bum Roll

15th April 202218th Century18th century, sewing, tutorial, underwear, victorian, working womanLina

This bum roll pattern is suitable for the 18th century and early Victorian era (1830s and 1840s) particularly for working class wear. It creates a fashionable bell-shape, especially when you wear it with tucked and corded petticoats. Continue reading How To Sew A Bum Roll →

How To Make Hay With A Scythe – History Of Haymaking

7th March 2019Themes Across Erasarticle, edwardian, haymaking, victorian, working womanLina

In the Victorian era, hay was made by hand with a scythe. But even today, a scythe is often used to cut grass and make hay. I love making hay with a scythe – it’s the best full body workout! Every summer, I make hay for our rabbits by hand with a scythe. Besides haymaking, the scythe is also perfect to cut grass on a hill in our garden that is too steep for a lawn mower.

‘Now, whilst the mowers are whetting their scythes, and the fragrant smell of the hay fills the summer air, let us sit on the haycock, and glance at the flowers around us.’ (English Wild Flowers, 1868)

Continue reading How To Make Hay With A Scythe – History Of Haymaking →

Edwardian Athletic Corsets For The Edwardian Sportswoman

24th January 20181900s - Edwardianarticle, corset, edwardian, underwear, working womanLina

Edwardian Sportswear, The Athletic Corset — Fencing corset, 1903

‘As every girl who loves the outdoor sports knows, corsets and athletics have long been on unfriendly terms with each other. For some strange reason, not entirely understood by those who devote a part of every day to athletics, the designers of feminine harness have made little or no study of a corset suitable for such exercise, and they certainly have made no effort to combine the straight front with the freedom of movement required in playing golf and tennis.

For the very first time on record peace has been established. We now have the pliable, easy straight front that is adapted to the needs of the athlete. Continue reading Edwardian Athletic Corsets For The Edwardian Sportswoman →

Edwardian Woman Carpenter

24th November 20171900s - Edwardianarticle, edwardian, wood, working womanLina

‘Beautiful substantial articles that can be made by any woman of artistic tastes and strength enough to drive a hammer Continue reading Edwardian Woman Carpenter →

DIY Solar Box Cooker

6th September 20171900s - Edwardian, DIY CraftsDIY, edwardian, haymaking, recipe, upcycling, working womanLina

I’ve finally finished my DIY solar cooker. Yay! My DIY solar box cooker is a combination between a hay box and a solar cooker. I followed these instructions for a “minimum” solar box cooker. For the solar box cooker I used two cardboard boxes, hay, wheat paste as glue, aluminium foil and plexiglas. Continue reading DIY Solar Box Cooker →

The Edwardian Summer Girl

17th August 20171900s - Edwardianarticle, dress, edwardian, hat, outerwear, sportswear, underwear, working womanLina

The Edwardian summer girl is robust, strong and independent. She’s bare-armed, collarless, hatless and short-skirted: She doesn’t care if she gets freckles or a tan. She’s as good at sports as men: She swims, rows, hunts – she even plays barefoot golf! Continue reading The Edwardian Summer Girl →

Medieval Stockings

7th July 201718th Century18th century, accessory, blue, finished historical costume, hand sewing, medieval, sewing, underwear, working womanLina

I wanted to sew woven fabric stockings for a long time, and now I’ve finally sewn a pair of medieval fabric stockings! I like how they turned out. And they’re really comfortable to wear! Continue reading Medieval Stockings →